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Original poster

If you’re a traffic cop please help me understand…

77 replies

EvelynSalt · 27/04/2025 22:37

…why there isn’t a national money-making, safety-drive campaign to fine middle lane drivers on motorways?

It feels like a single cop car patrolling up and down a motorway could dole out £££ in fines and hopefully the middle lane hoggers
would also learn a lesson! They are a total liability and it seems to be getting worse and worse.

I’m sure there is a logical reason why this isn’t happening or isn’t possible, so curious to learn from your experience.

OP posts:
Original poster
EvelynSalt · 30/04/2025 23:53

StillCreatingAName · 30/04/2025 18:58

I’m no middle lane hogger, but have to say the wankers that speed past in the fast lane, or flash lights to make you move across (even if you’re already doing 80…cough, the maximum of 70) or those who weave in and out then undertake on the inside lane are far more dangerous than usually driving-glove clad types hogging the middle lane. Give me a cautious, anxious, middle lane hogger over the pricks in the new money speed machines in the fast lane any day.

Edited
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This is kind of my point though. I don’t want to be collateral damage on the motorway between people undertaking, speeding or having to make dangerous manoeuvres across three lanes to overtake some plonker sitting in the middle lane. This behaviour is dangerous and increases the risk of incidents, obviously. Every time I use the motorway, without fail, middle lane drivers (which I am defining as either being undertaken by trucks and other slow-moving vehicles on the inside lane, or driving parallel to an empty inside lane) are causing traffic, additional manoeuvres and inevitably stress and grief to other road users.

Also, my goodness, the number of people who are in adulthood and appear to have the privilege of a driving license and, yet, do not comprehend that there is no such thing as “fast lane” and “slow lane”…I wonder how people manage sometimes. If you’re not overtaking, pull as far left as possible. Then overtake. Then pull back across.

OP posts:
Original poster
EvelynSalt · 30/04/2025 23:54

Serencwtch · 30/04/2025 18:28

DH is an ex - traffic cop so I asked him.

It's a myth that speed cameras etc bring in revenue. It goes to a centralized pot along with other court fines etc and doesn't begin to cover the cost of policing the roads. It definitely does not go to the police force.

The focus is on the fatal -5 (speeding, distraction, drink & drugs, not wearing a seat belt & careless driving) as they are the most common factors in fatal collisions & serious injuries.

Middle lane hogging can come under careless driving but is much less likely to be a factor in a fatal collision.

They focus on the things which are shown to be the biggest risks to life - speed being by far the biggest factor, followed by drink & drugs & mobile phone use. This is based on very thorough investigations which takes place following a serious or fatal collision where they look into every factor that contributed.

They use many methods to prevent & detect offences on motorways including patrols (they even own an HGV so they can spot phone use among HGV drivers), technology eg cameras & investigation work following serious collisions.

Lane hogging & more dangerous problems eg dangerous overtaking, undertaking etc are more difficult to take to court from the limited evidence of fixed cameras.

Funding for specialist policing has been cut to the bone in recent years & so there is very little resources to tackle problems & most forces can only look at the biggest causes of death - speed, drink/drugs & mobile phones.

He also highlighted that there is a portal for members of the public to report dangerous driving captured on dashcam - it's caused Nextbase or you can go to your local forces 'report online' tool. If there is sufficient evidence in the dashcam footage the police can take action eg points, fine, warning letter.

Thanks to you and your DH for taking the time to reply. Makes complete sense, I should probably get a dashcam.

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